Where to go for Rwanda luxury safaris in 2026?

Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, presents undisputed luxury safaris that will leave visitors yearning for more in 2026. Despite its relatively small size on the global map, Rwanda has some of the most highly sought-after wildlife species. From north to south, Rwanda commands a blessed region of unlimited safari destinations, giving its neighbours a run for their money. In 2026, Rwanda should be on any adventure enthusiast’s and nature lover’s bucket list for exploration. Rwanda offers high-end safaris for executive visitors searching for a luxurious, elegant, adventurous experience away from their busy work schedules.

These adventures can include gorilla trekking, which brings visitors on an up-close encounter with the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. Over a quarter of the remaining world’s population of mountain gorillas is located in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Daily, this park sees an increase in the number of visitors who go for a chance to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. From the tropical highland jungles of Volcanoes National Park, head to the scenic savannah plains of Akagera National Park. Here, visitors can experience Africa’s wilderness first-hand through game drive safaris and boat cruises on Lake Ihema, all in one park.

The southern regions of Rwanda, in the Nyungwe National Park rainforests, hide one of the most intelligent animals on earth, chimpanzees. These are encountered on chimpanzee trekking experiences, where visitors marvel at their distinctive closeness to humans, affirming their 98.8% DNA resemblance. What makes Rwanda more impressive is that, besides offering luxury safaris, it tops it off with unmatched world-class and state-of-the-art accommodations. These accommodation options are strategically located in the most pristine safari destinations across Rwanda. Below is where to go for Rwanda luxury safaris in 2026.

One & Only Gorilla’s Nest in Volcanoes National Park

At the foothills of the famous Virunga Volcanoes, One & Only Gorilla’s Nest sits quietly tucked away in the tropical rainforest. It is located at the edge of Volcanoes National Park, offering perfect accommodation for visitors embarking on gorilla trekking experiences. This facility forms a perfect combination of luxury and adventure as it offers an elegant and comfortable stay amidst the jungles of the Virungas.

One & Only Gorilla’s Nest is one of the most luxurious accommodation facilities found at Volcanoes National Park. This facility has over 21 treehouses dotted across the jungles of tropical forest on the Virunga foothills. This facility was built using eco-friendly materials from wood, bamboo, and leather, all sourced from the forest and the neighboring communities. The rooms at this facility are spacious with private balconies offering panoramic view of the Virunga Mountains in the backdrop.

One & Only Nyungwe House in Nyungwe National Park

Located at the edge of Nyungwe National Park, One & Only Nyungwe House offers a luxurious stay. The 8 wooden villas at this facility contain over 22 luxury rooms, locally designed to bring out the rich Rwandan culture. Even with this, One & Only Nyungwe House maintains its elegance. The recent renovations on this property ushered in an extension of private decks offering a 360-degree view of the Nyungwe Forest. The restaurant at One & Only Nyungwe House offers both continental and local menus. This facility has a tea plantation and a garden where most of its food ingredients are sourced. The amenities at this house are vast, including a standard swimming pool, free WiFi, free parking space, laundry services, spacious rooms, and a fully stocked bar etc.

Hemingways Retreat Kigali

Hemingways Retreat in Kigali is a luxury accommodation facility in the heart of Kigali, the main business hub of Rwanda. This accommodation is outstanding and it should be on your list of where to go for Rwanda luxury safaris in 2026. The respect for the environment and culture puts this facility among the top luxury accommodations in the city. The Hemingways Retreat is powered by solar energy, which runs most of the daily work including lighting and cooking. Hemingways Retreat has over 20 individually spacious rooms with excellent views of the city. Each room has large windows that allow natural light to enhance the eco-friendly nature of this facility.

Magashi Wilderness Safari Camp in Akagera National Park

If you are still figuring out where to go for Rwanda luxury safaris in 2026, Magashi Wilderness Safari Camp is available. Camp in the most luxurious way at Magashi Wilderness Safari Camp in Akagera National Park. This camp lies on the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga, offering the best views of the pristine waters and the surrounding savannahs. This camp comes with a large deck perfect for catching the best sunset and sunrise views during late evenings or early mornings. This camp gives visitors a chance to spot different wildlife species from the comfort of the camp.

Serena Hotel Lake Kivu

Serena is an international brand of luxury hotels and resorts across the world. Luxury is the nature of Serena Hotel along the shores of Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is the largest lake in Rwanda and is a fine place where to go for Rwanda luxury safaris in 2026. With this in mind, Serena Hotel Lake Kivu offers top-notch accommodation for visitors exploring this lake for beach and other water experiences. This hotel has spacious and comfortable rooms ranging from Deluxe, standard rooms, and presidential suites. These rooms come with several amenities, such as swimming pool, laundry services, free WiFi, free parking, a bar, and a restaurant offering both local and international dishes.

Singita Kwitonda in Volcanoes National Park

From a distance, Singita Kwitonda can skip your sight as it blends perfectly with the surrounding environment. Its appearance is attributed to the major materials used in building this lodge, which were sourced from the environment it is in. Singita Kwitonda bleeds luxury, elegance, and heritage. These are at the core of this lodge and some of the main reasons why it is among the most sought-after lodges around. It is located on the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes at the border of Volcanoes National Park. Singita Kwitonda is where to go for Rwanda luxury safaris in 2026 for a great staying experience.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Volcanoes National Park

Named after Mount Sabyinyo, the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Volcanoes National Park is located close to the park headquarters. It is a community-based lodge offering luxury accommodation to visitors. This lodge has over 6 spacious and comfortable rooms with two suites and a family cottage. In a conservation program to protect the mountain gorillas, community members were supported to establish a lodge that would be a source of income. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is where to go for Rwanda luxury safaris in 2026 because the accommodation employs the community people. Also, the lodge purchases the agricultural produce of the community, ranging from vegetables to tea and coffee, which are used at the lodge.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.